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750ml - Case of 3
Bottle: $1317.17
The 2019 La Faraona comes from the vineyard called El Ferro in the village of Corullón, 0.55 hectares on very steep...
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750ml - Case of 3
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The pale and delicate 2020 La Faraona is the lowest in alcohol at 13.5% and is more reductive than its...
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750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $120.95
Deep, bright-hued ruby. Powerful, spice-accented aromas of red berry liqueur, cherry pit, rose oil and incense, with...
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750ml - Case of 6
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I always like to compare the 2018 Las Lamas with the Moncerbal (and the others!) from the same vintage, as they are...
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750ml - Case of 3
Bottle: $126.78
The grapes used for the 2019 Las Lamas come from a selection of 1.75 hectares they own in the paraje in the village...
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750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $114.95
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750ml - Case of 3
Bottle: $133.62
The 2019 Moncerbal is a "vino de paraje," produced with grapes (mostly Mencía but also 4% white grapes) from...
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750ml - Case of 3
Bottle: $152.30
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750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $151.23
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750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $58.78
The 2018 reds are one step above in finesse, elegance and freshness compared with the 2017s, and the 2018 Lalama is...
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Dessert/Fortified Wine
375ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $341.53
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750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $45.28
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375ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $321.53

Brachetto Ice Wine Japanese Whiskey Mencia

Brachetto is a delicate red wine grape grown predominantly in the Piedmont region of northern Italy, where it has been cultivated and used in the production of a range of wines for centuries. The grapes usually hold delicate flavors of summer berries, most notably strawberries, and are used to make light bodied, extremely drinkable wines perfect for hot sunny days. Their thin skins mean that they are usually low in tannins, which results in a silky smooth, mild red wine. Because of their lightness and fresh, summery flavors, they are also used to make excellent sparkling wines, similar to a Lambrusco. They are a highly aromatic grape varietal, and in recent decades they have started to be planted in many New World countries with similar climatic conditions to their native Italy.

Whisky might not be the first thing that springs to mind when we think of Japanese fine produce, but over the past one hundred years, this fascinating and multi-faceted country has diligently forged a unique whisky identity which is growing in popularity, and which is entirely its own.

The story of Japanese whisky begins in 1918, when Masataka Taketsuru was sent to Scotland to undertake a tour of single malt distilleries in the Highlands, and bring home a knowledge of whisky and distillation skills. He returned full of inspiration, helped no doubt by his new Scottish wife, and alongside his friend, Shinjiro Torii, set up what would become a successful whisky industry.

Today, the Japanese whisky industry is spread over a relatively small handful of distilleries, which continue to use Scottish techniques and recipes, but with a hefty dose of distinctly Japanese experimentalism. This is displayed most obviously in the barrelling techniques the Japanese use - to create a distinctly Oriental set of tasting notes, native Japanese oakwood casks are used for ageing, alongside casks taken from plum wine producers, which impart a beautiful set of floral flavors to the whisky.

While some distilleries produce some excellent single malts, the majority of Japanese whiskies are blended, which reveals a unique set of flavors and aromas ranging from honeysuckle and orange blossom, to toffee and acetone.